Botha: SA not CWC chokers

New Delhi - Off-spinner Johan Botha has denied that South Africa's lack of World Cup titles is because it has lost its nerve in big matches.

Botha told reporters on Monday "it is interesting to say South Africa are chokers, but Australia has won the last three, which means other teams have not won too".

Australia has triumphed in four World Cups in total, while South Africa has never reached a final despite having the second highest win percentage in the competition.

South Africa were losing semifinalists in 1992, 1999 and 2007.

South Africa opens its campaign against West Indies in a Group B match at New Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla ground on Thursday.

Other teams in the group are India, England, Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands.

AP

Comments

MrMM - 2011-02-21 17:57

Well the country is behind you guys proving the rest of the world wrong, do us proud

Thato Goitsemang - 2011-02-21 18:28

If I hear this word one more time....

Mike Webber - 2011-02-21 18:31

CHOKERS !!!

Thato Goitsemang - 2011-02-21 18:49

Very mature.

KH - 2011-02-22 07:19

Chokers, chokers

Mike Webber - 2011-02-21 18:29

The word 'CHOKERS' remains a loose term guys. Don't get too pedantic about it's use.
High expectations from a team that's riding high, and then that team bombs at the final or 2nd last hurdle.
That's pretty much a choker in my mind. Deal with it.
Win us that CWC trophy and prove us all wrong !!!

Ziddi - 2011-02-21 21:00

Maybe all the ' CHOKERS' who want personal success from our national cricket team so badly , should stop tagging the team and try and make something out of yourselves personally before tagging others. Each one of those players have their own personal accomplishments. Hopefully they will win the cup,but if they don't, they will still be MY countries team,and i will support them whenever they play in their triumphs and losses. GO PROTEAS!!!!!!

ChrisG - 2011-02-22 08:06

You're missing the point. We'll all carry on supporing the Proteas, but the fact is that if you're consistently one the favourites to win the cup and then fail when it really matters, you're a choker. Andy Murray is the choker of tennis, NZ is the choker of rugby and the Proteas are the the chokers of cricket.

dave.cohen2 - 2011-02-21 21:07

Doesn't anyone out there have any brains? When a leading player talks about "choking" surely it must have a negative connotation. The less people say about it the sooner it will be forgotten. Unfortunately neither Smith nor Botha nor the management have enough of a brain to share!

Jim - 2011-02-22 07:20

Let me think now,isn"t it just a simple lacking of world class talent? Get to grips with it.

Kgopotso - 2011-02-22 09:05

Look at the picture..Look at his hand..He's about to chuck..Bloody agent chucker...He's so overrated..He should be on the bench for the whole duration of the world cup else we losing if he heads the spin bowling department..

FUBAR - 2011-02-22 09:10

Everyone is looking at this in the wrong way; At least we are the best at something...
Best chokers in world cricket... :)
For the record: According to Wikipedia the definition of chokers:
"In sports, a choke is the failure of an athlete or an athletic team to win a game or tournament when the player or team had been strongly favored to win or had squandered a large lead in the late stages of the event. Someone who chokes may be known as a choker or, more derisively, as a choke artist."
Looking at the actual definition, we cannot be chokers as we are definitely not the favorites. If the players believe we are, that is the battle already lost.